Water aerators



Sept- 1961 E. P. AGHNIDES 2,998,933

WATER AERATORS Filed Aug. 1, 1958 I INVENTOR Elie P Aghnides ATTORNEYS United States Patent' O 2,998,933 WATER AERATORS Elle P. Aghnides, 46 W. 54th St., New York 19, NY. Filed Aug. 1, 1958, Ser. No. 752,500 11 Claims. (Cl. 239-432) duce a plurality of high velocity streamlets, and adapted to mix these streamlets with air in an appropriate mixing chamber, thereby to produce a coherent highly bubbly stream of water. In general, structures of the type con templated heretofore are often complicated and difficult to manufacture, assemble and properly maintain; and the present invention, recognizing these diificulties of prior structures, is concerned with the provision of a simplified structure which is not only easily and inexpensively manufactured, but which in fact produces a stream of such character that a higher degree of aeration is possible in a simpler structure than has been the case hereto-fore.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide improved fluid mixing devices or water aerators.

Y It is another object of the invention to provide a jet forming diaphragm wherein the water is broken up and mixed with air with relatively little deviation of its course from its direction of flow to thereby greatly maintain the kinetic energy of the water for its further aeration before it discharges from the device.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of fluid mixing devices or aerators having fewer parts than those suggested heretofore, whereby the said device may be more readily manufactured, assembled and disassembled than has been the case in the past.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of improved foraminous or diaphragm structures for use in water aerators so arranged that streams are formed thereby and mixed with air in a plurality of steps, whereby a highly bubbly jet can be formed with fewer mixing screens than have been considered necessaryin the past. t

I A further'object of the present invention resides in the provision of anlimp'roved aerator or fluid mixing device which provides for the mixing of water and air in at least two'successivesteps. r

In providing fortheforegoing objects and advantages, the present invention contemplates the provision of an improved jet, forming structure adapted to be disposed within a casing or water tap, and comprising in its simpl'est embodiment a'single disc-like structure whichcan be molded from an appropriate plastic materialsuch as polyethylene. The structure thus provided preferably defines at least one and preferably a plurality of annular chambers for .the passage of water through said diaphragm; and these chambers are in turn arranged to cooperate with a plurality of restricted orifices disposed at their-upstream ends so positioned that water entering the annular chamber or chambers through said restricted orifice is confined to spaced portions of said annular chamber or chambers. 'The aforementioned chambers and orifices are further so dimensioned and positioned with respect to one another that the streams entering the said chambers break up and are changed in character.

Patented Sept.,5

with relatively slight decrease of their kinetic energy be-v fore discharge from said annular chamber; and means are provided for admitting air to the aforementioned an nular chamber or chambers at positions inter-mediate each of these streamlets whereby a mixing of water and air occurs within said annular chambers.

It will be appreciated that by this structure, the unitary device mentioned is adapted to discharge a plurality of streams which have greatly maintained their kinetic energy by proportioning of channels and alignment of selected inlet and outlet openings and which have been already partially aerated; and these partially aerated streams are thereafter mixed with further air in an ap propriate mixing chamber, thereby to effect a high degree of aeration in the final jet. The structure effecting this most desirable purpose is simple and can be readily and inexpensively manufactured; and in addition, the preliminary aeration and highly live streams formed by operation of the device permits theuse of fewer downstream mixing screens, with an attendant saving in cost and com plexity, than has been possible heretofore. I 1

The foregoing objects, advantages, construction and operation of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention. U FIIEGURE 1A is a view taken on line 1A-1A of FIG- R 1.

FIGURE 1B is a view taken on line 1B--1B of FIG- URE l.

FIGURE 2 illustrates an alternative form of the pree-v ent invention.

FIGURE 2A is a view taken on line 2A-2A of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 3 illustra es still another embodiment of the present invention. y

FIGURE 3A is a view taken on line 3A--3A of FIG- URE 3.

The present application comprises a continuation inpart of my prior application Serial No. 625,448, filed November 30, 1956, for: Fluid Mixing Devices.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that an improved aerator, constructed in accordance with the present invention, may comprise a casing 10 having air inlet slots 11 formed in the side walls thereof and further having an internal shoulder 12 adaptedto support an improved jet forming and preliminary mixing, means, 13 constructed in accordance with the present invention.

It will be appreciated that theparticular form of casing 10 shown in FIGURE '1 is of the so-called slotted type in that the air inlets 11 are formed in the side walls thereof; but the structures to be described hereinafter can be disposed either within a water tap itself or within a casing of thesorcalled slotless type, whereby air may enter adjacent the discharge end of the casing and pass upward into the mixing chamber.

Structure '13 may comprise a single molded plastic element, and defines a plurality of concentrically arranged annular chambers 14, 15 and 16. These annular chambers extend from the downstream side of member 13 alorifices 19 arranged in a second circular locus overlying the upstream end of annular chamber 15, and a third plurality of restricted orifices 20 arranged in a third circular locus overlying the upstream end of annular chamber 16.

The orifices 18, 19 and 20 are, as mentioned, of small er cross-sectional area than their associated annular chambers, but they are so proportioned that water flowing through these orifices passes into the annular chambers associated therewith and impinges upon and breaks on the inner walls of said chambers 14, 15 and 16. In addition, it will be noted that the several orifices 18, 19 and 20 are spaced from one another in each of their associated loci whereby the water streamlets in annular chambers 14, 15 and 16 are spaced from one another within each said annular chamber. As a result air, if admitted to the annular chambers at positions intermediate each of the streamlets in said annular chambers, will be mixed with the broken streamlets in the chambers whereby Water discharging from the downstream end of the several annular chambers 14, 15 and 16 will be partially aerated and broken up in nature. This admission of air is provided by the structure shown in FIGURE 1B.

' In particular, the downstream ends of annular chamhers 14 and 15 are, as shown, open in nature whereby air passing to the interior of casing via air inlets 11, communicates with the downstream ends of chambers 14 and 15 and can pass upward into those chambers at pd sitions intermediate the broken streams formed in those chambers. The downstream end of chamber 16 is of slightly different construction; and in particular, this downstream end defines circular openings 21 which are interconnected to one another by slotted openingsZZ of lesser dimension. The several openings 21 are disposed under and in alignment with the upstream restricted orifices 29 whereby water passing into orifices is mixed with air entering chamber 16 via slotted openings 22 and then is sues in the aforementioned broken and partially aerated flow from circular openings 21 defined in the bottom of element 13. It will be appreciated, of course, that the bottoms of. all of chambers 14, 15 and 16 can be formed either in the manner shown in regard to chambers 14 and 15 or in the manner shown in regard to chamber 16.

The operation of this structure is essentially similar to that already described, in that the streamlets entering through restricted orifices 38, 39 and 40 are broken within annular chambers 31, 32 and 33 and are maintained in spaced relation to one another within said chambers whereby air entering the chambers from the downstream ends thereof can be mixed within the chambers to emerge therefrom in a highly broken partially aerated flow. The orifices 46 may each be of 1 mm. diameter, with about of each orifice being covered by rings 37. There may be forty such orifices disposed in three circular rows, as illustrated. Annular chambers 31, 32 and 33 may have a radial distance of 1 mm. between the walls thereof, and a height of five mm. A unit constructed with these dimensions has been found to give good results.

A still further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 3. In this particular embodiment the jet forming and preliminary mixing structure comprises Element 13 defines a central pin 23 extending in a downstream direction as a unitary portion thereof and a mixing screen 24 is traversedby pin 23 and is retained thereon by frictional forces. A further downstream screen 25 is provided, and screen 25 may be-spaced from screen 24 by a spacing ring 26. By reason of this structure, therefore, the partiallyaerated streams issuing from the downstream ends of annular chambers 14, 15 and 16 are further mixed with air'adjacent mixing screens 24 and 25 thereby to produce a highly aerated bubbly stream at the discharge end of casing 10. It will be appreciated, however, that due to the fact that aeration occurs in plural steps, i.e. first in the annular chambers and then adjacent the mixing screens 24 and/or 25, only a single downstream mixing screen may be employed to produce a desired output. Element 13 may have orifices 1820, each of .9 mm. diameter, and these orifices may be positioned over annular chambers 14, 15 and 16 which in turn have a radial distance, between, the walls thereof, of' 1 mm., and a height of 10 mm. Astructure so dimensioned gave very good results in cooperation with. two screens of the type in most aerators in publicuse.

FIGURE 2 illustrates an alternative'form; of structure such as may be employed in the, present invention; and it will be understood that this particular figure represents only an improved jet forming and preliminary mixing means which would in normal course, be disposed within a casing or water tap, in the manner described. The structure of FIGURE 2 again comprises a unitary body 30 defining a plurality of annular, chambers31, 32 and 33 which are spaced from one another by intermediate annular rings 34 and 35. These annular. rings;34 and 35,

andthe outer annular surface 36 of member 30, are held.

together by upper annular rings 37 (see FIGURE 2A). The upper surface of, the overall body further defines a plurality of restricted orifices 38, 39 and 40 disposed in circular arrays as shown adjacent the upstream ends of? the annular chambers 31, 32 and 33, respectively.

a molded plastic element 49 which defines a shoulder 41 receiving a disc 42 having a plurality of orifices 43 therein. The orifices 43 are again arranged in circular groups in the manner aforesaid, and are arranged to overlie the upper ends of annular chambers 44, 45 and 46 respectively. These annular chambers each include an upper section which is wider than the diameter of the individual orifices 43, with this wider section tapering downwardly as shown to a lower section having a width substantially equal to the diameter of orifices 43. As a result, water entering through the several orifices 43 is obliged to contact the walls of the lower substantially uniform width portions of each annular chamber, whereby it breaks up in the manner aforesaid. The lower ends of the several annular chambers 44, 45 and 46 are open, as shown in FIGURE 3A, and these chambers and the intermediate annular ring portions of element 49 are interconnected to one another by webs 47 thereby to produce the desired unitary structure. Air may accordingly enter the several chambers 44, 45 and 46 at positions intermediate the several streamlets in chambers 44, 45 and 46 whereby they are mixed with air and discharge in partially aerated fashion in the manner described.

In addition, it should be noted that the element 49 includes a central tubular chamber 48 which has no orifice 43 overlying it. As a result, air may enter through orifice 48 into the region defined between the upper ends of chambers 44, 45 and 46 and the downstream side of disc 42, whereby air is caused to enter the several annular chambers from both the upstream and downstream sides thereof. This assures that relatively high aeration occurs in the several annular chambers whereafter the partially aerated streamlets formed thereby can be further mixed with air in the manner described in reference to FIG- URE 1.

While I have thus describedpreferred embodiments of the present invention, many variations will be suggested to those skilled in the art; and certain such variations have been mentioned. It must be understood that further variations are possible; and accordingly, the foregoing description is meant to be illlustrative only and should not be considered limitative of my invention. All such variations and modifications as are in accord with the principles described are meant to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An improved fluid mixing structure adapted to be supported in a casing, comprising a substantially planar structural member of molded plastic having a plurality of elongated annular chambers formed therein and extending therethrough in concentric relation to one another, said member including orifice means defining a plurality of restricted fluid inlet orifices spaced from one another adjacent the upstream end of each of said plurality of annular chambers, said orifice means being positioned with respect to said chambers so as to produce a plurality of individual spaced broken-up and turbulent streams on the interior or each said chamber, the downstream side of said member being exposed to air so as to admit air to said chambers at positions between the positions of said broken-up streams whereby a mixing of water and air occurs within each of said elongated chambers thereby to produce a plurality of aerated substantially concentric annular streams issuing from the downstream side of said planar structural member.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said member includes an integral molded plastic supporting structure extending from the downstream side thereof in the direction of fluid flow through said orifices and chambers, and mixing screen means engaging said supporting structure and held thereby at a position spaced from and downstream of the downstream side of said planar structural member whereby the aerated streams issuing from said member may be mixed with additonal air in the region of said mixing screen means.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said orifice means comprises an integral portion of said member at the upstream side of said member.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said orifice means comprises an apentured disc engaging the upstream side of said planar structural member.

5. An aerator comprising a casing, unitary jet forming and mixing means removably supported in said casing and comprising a disc-like member of molded plastic construction extending substantially transverse to the direction of fluid flow through said casing, said member including means defining a plurality of difierent diameter annular chambers extending in concentric relation to one another in the direction of fluid flow through said casing, the length of each said chamber being appreciably greater than the width thereof, said member further including unitary means defining a plurality of restricted fluid inlet apertures adjacent the upstream end of each said annular chamber, said member admitting air to said annular chambers from at least the downstream ends of said chambers whereby water and air are mixed in said annular chambers to discharge from said downstream ends as a plurality of substantially concentric streams of water in at least partially aerated condition.

6. The combination of claim 5 including mixing means spaced downstream of the downstream side of said memher for further mixing said partially aerated water with an. a

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said member includes means for admitting air to said plurality of annular chambers from both the upstream and downstream ends thereof.

8. A jet forming and fluid mixing element comprising a disc-like member having a pair of spaced substantially parallel faces, said member having a plurality of spaced annular chambers of diflerent diameters respectively extending therethrough between said faces, each of said annular chambers being appreciably longer, between said races, than it is wide, said member including unitary means adjacent the upstream one of said parallel faces defining a plurality of restricted fluid inlet orifices communicating with the upstream end of each of said annular chambers, said orifices being arranged to cooperate with said annular chambers so as to cause water flowing under pressure through said orifices into said annular chambers to be distributed as a plurality of spaced tillbulent streams of water on the interior of each said an nular chamber, the downstream ends of said annular chambers being open for the admission of air to said chambers at positions within each annular chamber between said spaced turbulent streams for mixing with said turbulent streams thereby to cause partially aerated water to emerge from the downstream ends of said annular chambers, and mixing screen means supported in spaced relation to the downstream face of said member for mixing said partially aerated water with additional air.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said member includes unitary supporting means extending in a downstream direction from said downstream face for engaging and holding said screen means.

10. A unitary structural member adapted to act as a fluid mixing structure in a water aerator, said structural member being substantially cylindrical in shape and having an outside substantially cylindrical Wall, a plurality of sets of interior cylindrical walls with the Walls of each set spaced from one another, to form an annular chamber, said walls being substantially concentric to one another, said walls extending between the upper and lower faces of said cylindrical member, the upper face 02E said cylindrical member including unitary portions at least partially closing the tops at each said annular chamber at a plurality of spaced positions circularly disposed about the top ends of each of said chambers thereby to define a plurality of restricted fluid inlet orifices spaced lfrom one another adjacent the upstream end of each of said plurality of annular chambers, and means comprising unitary portions of said structural member extending between the outer and interior cylindrical walls of each said set of walls for holding all of said walls and orifices in predetermined fixed position relative to one another, the downstream side of said member being exposed to air whereby the member will aerate water passing therethrough.

11. A unitary structural member adapted to act as a fluid mixing structure, said structural member having a plurality of concentric annular openings each of which has a plurality of restricted spaced entrance openings at its upstream end, said concentric openings extending from said entrance openings to the downstream end of the member, said downstream end being exposed to air, said member consisting of a single molded plastic element which connects together the material forming the walls of the concentric annular openings, said openings being so restricted and spaced as to set up in the annular openings spaced streams, one for each entrance opening, that permit air to enter between the streams and aerate the water in the annular openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,463,975 Johnson Mar. 8, 1949 2,564,060 Gettins Aug. 14, 1951 2,675,218 Bletcher et a1. Apr. 13, 1954 2,707,624 Shames et al. p May 3, 1955 2,717,614 Palivos Sept. 13, 1955 2,717,772 'Palivos Sept. 13, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 547,876 Italy Sept. 15, 1956 

